In life, small things can make a big difference. For some people, it’s cranking up a particular song that makes them feel like they can take on the world. Jayd Deroché explains that sometimes, music can give people an all-out adrenaline rush.
For those unfamiliar with adrenaline, it’s a hormone that, when released, leads to your heart racing and a fight or flight response that is equal parts terrifying and rapturous thanks to an intense release of dopamine. An adrenaline rush can result from a negative experience such as being victimized in a crime or a positive experience like (voluntarily) skydiving. During this adrenaline rush, a person’s physical strength and endurance can substantially increase.
Per Jayd Deroché, music can create an adrenaline rush. Imagine being in the car when a great song comes on, causing you to feel the thrill of the open road. Or, think about being in the gym when a motivational classic like “Eye of the Tiger” cues up, prompting you to pick up the pace on the treadmill. Some songs simply make you feel empowered, with the beat and lyrics giving you an adrenaline rush even if you’re just lounging around the house.
Some songs have an intensity to them that is infectious, generating an adrenaline rush in even the most stoic of people. The hard-hitting rock and metal tracks of the 80s and 90s are great examples of such songs as MTV created a generation of air guitarists. Jayd Deroché credits Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” as a textbook example of adrenaline rock with its guitar riffs and growling vocals.
The next time you are looking for an adrenaline rush but want to keep both feet on the ground, just crank up the right music. Jayd Deroché has his own playlist for this very purpose, and the bone-jarring songs have yet to be a disappointment.